Album: The High End of Low

Introduction
"The High End of Low" is the seventh studio album by American rock band Marilyn Manson, released on May 20, 2009, by Interscope Records. The album marks a go back to the more aggressive and commercial sound of the band's earlier work, as well as a reunion with longtime bassist Twiggy Ramirez, who had actually been absent from the band's previous albums "Eat Me, Drink Me" and "The Golden Age of Grotesque". The album was produced by Chris Vrenna, who had actually formerly worked with Manson on earlier albums, as well as by Manson and Twiggy themselves.

"The High End of Low" received blended evaluations from music critics, with some praising its raw noise and psychological honesty, while others criticized it for being irregular and unfocused. The album debuted at number four on the Billboard 200, selling 49,000 copies in its very first week, and generated 3 songs, consisting of "Arma-God Damn-Mother Fucking-Geddon" and "Running to the Edge of the World".

Background and Recording
Following the industrial failure of "Eat Me, Drink Me", Marilyn Manson experienced a duration of individual turmoil, including a high-profile breakup with starlet Evan Rachel Wood, who was the motivation for much of the album's content. The recording process for "The High End of Low" was explained by Manson as being very disorderly and unpleasant, reflecting the emotional state he was in.

The return of Twiggy Ramirez to the band's lineup played a substantial role in the album's noise, as Ramirez's guitar work and songwriting contributions helped to recapture the raw energy of the band's earlier work.

The album was taped at Manson's Hollywood Hills home and at Pinky's Palace, a leased mansion in Beverly Hills. The unconventional recording places enabled the band to be more experimental and spontaneous during the recording procedure.

Lyric Themes
The lyrics on "The High End of Low" touch upon styles of self-destruction, nihilism, and the often poisonous nature of fame, and are heavily affected by Manson's individual battles throughout this time. Notably, Manson's separation with Wood is stated to have had a significant effect on the album's lyrics and themes, with many tunes including reflective and confessional lyrics about their relationship, such as "Into the Fire" and "Running to the Edge of the World".

Musical Style
"The High End of Low" is marked by a go back to the aggressive and industrial sound of Marilyn Manson's earlier work. The album includes a mix of heavy guitar-driven tracks and softer, more melodic songs. Noteworthy tracks include the industrial-tinged "Devour", the heavy and aggressive "Arma-God Damn-Mother Fucking-Geddon", the climatic ballads "Running to the Edge of the World" and "Into the Fire", and the speculative and disorderly "WOW".

Reception
The album got blended evaluations from music critics. Some praised its raw noise and psychological honesty, while others criticized it for being irregular and unfocused. The album was a moderate business success, debuting at number four on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 49,000 copies in its first week. The three singles released from the album, "Arma-God Damn-Mother Fucking-Geddon", "Running to the Edge of the World" and "We're from America", got differing degrees of success, but none of them reached the heights of the band's earlier hits.

Overall, "The High End of Low" is an album that showcases Marilyn Manson's return to a more aggressive and industrial sound, while also diving into a few of the most revealing and introspective lyrics of his career. The album stands as a testament to Manson's long-lasting musical vision and his desire to challenge and check out the darker elements of his life and experiences.